Bearing



Jan. 19, 1937. w. MLLER 2,068,458

BEARING Filed July 18, 1934 /n venfar:

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Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEARING Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 736,111

15 Claims.

This invention relates to bearings and more especially to meansfor eliminating pressureand consequent friction in bearings, more particularly in the case of compasses.

The invention and its aims and objects will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing of one embodiment of the invention herein given for illustrative purposes, the true scope of the invention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which the invention is illustratively shown in its application to compasses, more particularly to dry compasses,

Fig. 1 is a vertical, central section of a compass embodying one illustrative form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section similar but at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional details of the con-.

trolling cylinder on lines 33 and 4-4 respecverse U-shaped member 6, which may carry the.

usual compass card (not shown) and is provided with .a horizontal surface secured to the upper end surface of a controlling piston 8 adapted to work in a cylinder In, it beingso fitted therein that it works without friction. Within the wall of such cylinder there is provided a preferably annular chamber 12 to which compressed air or other pressure fluid is supplied through an intake nozzle I3 from any suitable source of supply (not shown).

Said annular chamber l2 communicates with the interior I! of said cylinder through a plurality of ports, at least three such ports 16 being herein provided, equally spaced circumferentially of the inner wall of said chamber. .1 Said piston 8 will preferably be hollow and. provided upon its outer surface with a circumferential channel I8 (Fig. 2) which communicates with the interior 20 of said piston 8 and thence with the interior ll of said cylinder through a plurality of lateral ports 22 which are equally spaced from each other circumferentially of said piston, at least three of such ports being herein provided. Within the lateral wall of said cylinder I 8 there will preferably be provided two diametrically opposed passages 24, 26 which communicate on the one hand Germany July 19, 1933 through ports 28 and 30 with the interior of said cylinder and on the other hand with outlet nozzles 32 and 34 for the escape of the compressed air collected in the interior of said cylinder.

The construction so far described operates as follows: The piston 8 with its magnet system tends to sink by gravity, so that ports l6 open fully into said circumferential channel l8. Compressed air entering by said intake nozzle l3 will penetrate to the interior of said cylinder I0 through sectional opening of all of ports l8, so that the pressure in the interior of cylinder! 8 will increase and cause piston 8 to move upwardly, carrying with it said magnet system, until the lower edge of said circumferential channel l8 obstructs more or less the ports It, thus diminishing the entrance of air to said cylinder with the result that eventually a state of equilibrium will be established at which the piston 8 and the magnet system carried thereby will float in space, so to speak, due to the air pressure within the interior of said cylinder and which supports the piston. As the compressed air enters the circumferential channel l8 through more than two ports l6 which are symmetrically positioned circumferentially of the lateral wall of the cylinder, and leaves said channel through ports 22 that also are equally spaced from each other circumferentially of said cylinder, an annular air cushion will be formed between the inner wall of said cylinder and its piston which prevents contact between the piston I and cylinder wall, thus providing a perfectly frictionless journalling or bearing. Said air cushion also exerts a centering action serving to center said piston within said cylinder.

tinuously impaired. -The invention therefore contemplates the provision. of suitable means to overcome this difliculty. Said means hereinillustratively comprises suitable damping means which may conveniently include a dash-pot consisting of a cylinder 36 secured at its closed end in the top plate 88 of the casing of the apparatusand in which works a damping piston 40 connected to the controlling piston 8 by a. rod 42.

The above described centering action of said compressed air cushion between the piston 8 and cylinder wall operates effectively when the apparatus is in vertical position, but possible less so if its position should not be vertical. To meet the latter case the invention therefore contemplates the provision of additional centering means. Herein said means may illustratively comprise bearings of agate or the like, two such bearings 44 and 46 being herein provided which are mounted, respectively, in the top plate 38 and base of cylinder l and which surround a resilient spindle 48 extending axially through,

Compasses and particularly dry compasses are often used to indicate the direction in which a ship or air craft is to be steered, or to operate automatic steering means. In the former case angular deviation of the magnet system relathis result, the lower edge of said controlling piston 8, for example, may be cut away throughout one half of its circumference to formtwo controlling shoulders 50 and 52 which, on rotation of said piston 8 control the passage of compressed air through the ports 28 and 30 If said piston 8 be rotated clockwise, for example (see Fig. 4) the opening of port 30 will be increased while that of port 28 will be diminished, and vice versa. The pressure ratio of the outlet or exhaust ports 24 and 26 will be correspondingly varied and may be'used in a well known manner to render said steering direction indicator or said relay above referred to operative as will be readily understood without further description by those skilled in the art. Means may be provided to adjust the direction indicator or the automatic steering mechanism for a determined course, said means herein illustratively comprising the arrangement whereby said cylinder l 0, is mounted for rotary movement in the housifig 38, 54, rotation thereof being conveniently eifected by a worm 56 carried by a shaft 58 and meshing with a worm gear 60 provided circumferentially of the lower edge of said cylinder.

The stronger the magnets of a compass the stronger will be its directional force. In. the case of dry compasses particularly however the extent to which such directional force can be increased is limited, because every increase in the weight of the magnet system entails an increase in friction in the bearing. The present invention meets this difli'culty fully by eliminating the bearing friction and for the same reason enables a stabilizing gyroscope to be added to the magnet system so as to eliminate the oscillations to which magnet systems are liable. This is a resuit heretofore impossible of realization in practice owing to the increase in weight and consequent increase in bearing friction entailed. The use of pressure means, such as fluid pressure to eliminate pressure and consequent friction in the bearings is consequently extremely advantageous. This is particularly the case where, as in the illustrative embodiment of the invention above described the weight of the magnet system itself is availed of suitably to regulate in each case the pressure necessary to maintain the magnet system practically in suspense free from friction. Means have been described for this purpose, said means in the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown being accomplished by making the bearing for the magnet system in the form of an equalizing cylinder having a control piston, the latter carrying the magnet system (and the gyroscope where the latter is used) and regulating or adjusting the sup ply and/or escape of the pressure fluid. Another advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the pressure fluid used to support the magnet system may also be used to drive the gyroscope. Movement of the piston in starting may also be used for other purposes, for example to release the gyroscope. Other possible uses and advantages will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I am aware that the present invention may be -ton mounted for rotary and sliding movement in said cylinder; a magnet system carried by said. piston; means to permit the entrance of pressure fluid into said cylinder and it exit therefrom; and ports controlled by movement of said piston relatively to said cylinder to vary the supply of pressure fluid admitted to said cylinder and its exit therefrom, and to cause the pressure fluid in said cylinder to support said piston for frictionless movement in said cylinder.

2. A compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a hollow, substantially cylindrical piston adapted to rotate and slide in said cylinder; a magnet system carried by said piston; pressure fluid admission ports in the wall of said cylinder, said ports being equally spaced from each other circumferentially of said cylinder; a circumferential channel provided in the outer surface of said piston and having therein a plurality of ports equally spaced from each other, to co-operate with said ports in the cylinder wall and control the admission of pressure fluid through the wall of said piston into said cylinder by movement of said piston relatively to said cylinder.

3. A compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a hollow piston adapted to rotate in said cylinder; a magnet system carried by said piston; pressure fluid intake ports in the cylinder and through the piston wall to admit pressure fluid into said cylinder; and fluid pressure outlet ports in the wall of said cylinder and-controlled by relative rotary movement of said piston and cylinder.

tion, a cylinder; a piston tree to rotate and slide -longitudinally in said cylinder; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; and automatic means controlling the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said-piston in said cylinder.

5. A magnet compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide longitudinally in said cylinder; said piston being tem carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; an automatic value means-controlling the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder.

6. A magnet compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder; said piston being of a smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact with the same; centering means'for said piston; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; and means controlling the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder.

"I. A magnet compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; 9. piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder, said piston being of smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact With the same; amagnet system carried by said piston; and means to supply fluid to said cylinder, including intake ports in the wall of said cylinder and control surfaces on the piston cooperating with said intake ports to control the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder.

8. A magnet compass comprising, in c'ombination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder, saidpiston being of a smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact with the same; centering means .Ior said piston; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; intake ports in the wall of said cylinder; and control surfaces on the'piston cooperating with said intake ports to control the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder.

9. A magnet compass comprising, in combina- 10. A magnet compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder, said piston being of smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder, to prevent contact with the same; centering means for said piston; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply mild to said cylinder; means controlling the supply of fluid in proportion to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder; and damping means responsive to sliding movement oi the pisto 11. A magnet compass com rising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder, said piston being of smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact with the same; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; intake ports in the wall of said cylinder;

control surfaces on the piston cooperating with said intake ports to control the supply of fluid in response to the sliding movement of said piston in said cylinder; and damping means responsive to sliding movements of said piston.

12. A'magnet compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston free to rotate and slide in said cylinder, said piston being or a smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact with the same; centering means for said piston; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to supply fluid to said cylinder; fluid passages in the wall of said cylinder; means to manually rotate said cylinder; ports in said cylinder; and control surfaces on said piston cooperating with said ports and controlling the flow of fluid in response to the angular movement of said piston in said cylinder.

13. A magnet compass comprising, in combi- I nation, a cylinder; a piston tree to rotate and slide in said cylinder, said piston being of a smaller diameter than the bore of said cylinder to prevent contact with the same; centering means for said piston; a magnet system carried by said piston; means to'supplyfluid to said cylinder; fluid passages in the wall of said cylinder; means to manually rotate said cylinder; ports in said cylinder; control surfaces on said piston cooperating with said ports and controlling the flow of fluid in response to the angular movement of said piston in said cylinder; and damping means responsive to sliding movement of said piston.

14. A compass comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston adapted to rotate and slide in said cylinder; a magnet system carried by said piston; pressure fluid admission ports in the wall of said cylinder, said ports being equally spaced from each other circumierentially of said cylinder; and a circumferential channel provided in the outer surface'of said piston and having therein a plurality of ports equally spaced from each other to cooperate with said ports in the cylinder wall and control the admission of pressure fluid through the wall of said piston into said cylinder by movement of said piston relatively to said cylinder.

15. In combination with a compass of the class described, a vertical casing having a closed lower end and an open upper end; means for delivering a pressure fluid into the casing and to discharge it therefrom; a supporting member mounted in the casing for both rotary and vertical sliding movement; a magnet system carried by said supporting member; and valve means associated with said supporting member automatically controlling the supply of fluid to the casing in pro- .portion to the movement of said supporting member. r g wannnwm 1:61am. 

